Pupil video: French phonics: r

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The French r sound

This Kapow pupil video is part of the Kapow French scheme of work. It introduces pupils to the French phoneme r, which is very common and helps speakers sound authentically French. Pupils learn that unlike in English, the French r is produced in the throat, creating a soft growling sound. Examples such as rouge, rectangle, and orange are used to help them practise hearing and saying the sound.

The video guides pupils through “mouth mechanics,” showing them how to drop their jaw, gently growl at the back of their throat, and place a finger on their neck to feel the vibration, a bit like gargling. Pupils then practise spotting the sound in short phrases before checking the words where it appears. The session ends by encouraging them to think of other French words they know that contain this distinctive phoneme, reinforcing both listening and pronunciation skills.

French, key stage 2, Year 3, Unit 2: French adjectives of colour, size and shape, Lesson 1: Colours in French

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